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A C Gomes and Sons (1869-1917) (photographers)

 Organization

Dates

  • Existence: 1869 - 1917

Biography

A.C. Gomes and Sons was founded by A.C. Gomes in Aden in 1869, where he was appointed Government Photographer for the Fortifications (Macmillan 1930, p.314). The company seems to have moved to Zanzibar circa 1870s. Playne listed the firm's address as 'in the Main Road (opposite the G.P.O.), Zanzibar' and wrote that 'for over forty years now their business has been carried on in those parts...' (1908-9, p.419). Gomes was briefly in partnership with J.B. Coutinho (partnership dissolved 31st July 1897). He photographed the lowering of an oil tank on 24th November 1900. Gomes's son, P.F. Gomes, took some of the first photographs of the Uganda Railway. The firm was appointed photographers to the Government Aerial Service during the First World War (Macmillan 1930, p.314).

A.C. Gomes died in 1917 (Macmillan 1930, p.314). The business was continued by P.F. Gomes who died in 1932. A branch of the company was opened in Dar-es-Salaam by P.F. Gomes and his son, E. Gomes, in 1929. In 1930 P.F. Gomes's other son, G. Gomes, was running the studio in Main Street, Zanzibar (Macmillan 1930, p.314).

The family were possibly originally from Goa. A photograph of A.C. Gomes and P.F. Gomes can be seen on p.419 of Playne's 'East Africa...' (1908-9).

Publications:

Playne, Somerset (1908-9) 'East Africa (British): its history, people, commerce, industries, and resources'. [London]. [Contains photographs by A.C. Gomes and Sons].

Sources:

Crofton, R.H. (1953) 'Zanzibar affairs, 1914-1933'. London: F. Edwards. Macmillan, Allister (1930) 'Eastern Africa and Rhodesia: historical and descriptive, commercial and industrial, facts, figures, and resources'. London: W.H. and L. Collingridge.

Playne, Somerset (1908-9) 'East Africa (British): its history, people, commerce, industries, and resources'. [London].

Simpson, D.H., Thomas, H.B. and Gray, Sir J.M. (c. 1961) 'Dictionary of East African biography'. Unfinished and unpublished [Held in RCS Library - RCMS 155].

Found in 7 Collections and/or Records:

 Item

[Arab doorway, Zanzibar], 1919

 Item
Reference Code: GBR/0115/RCS/Y3011K/4
Scope and Contents

155 x 215 mm. Showing an ornately carved Arab doorway in Zanzibar town. Photograph probably by A.C. Gomes and Sons.

Dates: 1919
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).
Found in: Cambridge University Library / Sir Henry Hesketh Bell Collection / Mauritius
 Item

[Arab doorway, Zanzibar], 1919

 Item
Reference Code: GBR/0115/RCS/Y3011K/5
Scope and Contents

148 x 209 mm. Showing an ornately carved Arab doorway in Zanzibar town. Photograph probably by A.C. Gomes and Sons.

Dates: 1919
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).
Found in: Cambridge University Library / Sir Henry Hesketh Bell Collection / Mauritius
 Fonds

Ivory from the mainland and Arab door

 Fonds
Reference Code: GBR/0115/RCS/Y3047D
Scope and Contents

191 x 291 mm. A mounted print showing two Swahilis holding a huge pair of elephant tusks in front of an intricately carved Arab doorway in Zanzibar.

Dates: 1900 - 1910
Conditions Governing Access: Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).
Found in: Cambridge University Library
 Item

Sultan Seyyid Ali, 1901 - 1905

 Item
Reference Code: GBR/0115/RCS/Y30468E/1
Scope and Contents

107 x 82 mm A seated studio portrait of the young Sultan of Zanzibar, wearing ceremonial robes and a turban and with a sword held across his lap. Seyyid Ali was sultan from 1902-1911 (under the regency of A.S. Rogers from 1902-05). He abdicated in 1911 and lived in Paris until his death in 1918.

Dates: 1901 - 1905
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).
Found in: Cambridge University Library / Rogers Collection on East Africa / [Zanzibar]
 Item

Swahili girls, 1901 - 1905

 Item
Reference Code: GBR/0115/RCS/Y30468E/3
Scope and Contents

106 x 81 mm. A duplicate of Y3047A/27, showing a Swahili girl arranging another’s hair. The picture has been surrounded by a border of foliage and rephotographed.

Dates: 1901 - 1905
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).
Found in: Cambridge University Library / Rogers Collection on East Africa / [Zanzibar]
 Item

Swahili girls, 1901 - 1905

 Item
Reference Code: GBR/0115/RCS/Y30468E/4
Scope and Contents

106 x 81 mm. A studio portrait showing two Swahili girls wearing gala costumes.

Dates: 1901 - 1905
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).
Found in: Cambridge University Library / Rogers Collection on East Africa / [Zanzibar]
 File

[Zanzibar], 1890 - 1905

 File
Reference Code: GBR/0115/RCS/Y30468E
Scope and Contents

An album containing photographs measuring 110 x 80 mm.

Dates: 1890 - 1905
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).
Found in: Cambridge University Library / Rogers Collection on East Africa

Filtered By

  • Subject: Zanzibar (inhabited place) X

Additional filters:

Type
Archival Object 6
Collection 1
 
Subject
Tanzania (nation) 6
Pwani (region) 2
Zanzibar Island (island) 2
 

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